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Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
90
Imaging
55
Features
70
Overall
61
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Panasonic GX850
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Revealed January 2017
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-GX800 / Lumix DMC-GF9
Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Released February 2012
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Panasonic GX850 and Pentax WG-2, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the GX850 (16MP) and the WG-2 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the GX850 (Four Thirds) and WG-2 (1/2.3") possess different sensor measurements.

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The GX850 was announced 4 years later than the WG-2 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GX850 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax WG-2 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple overview of how the GX850 scores against the WG-2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX850 over the Pentax WG-2

 GX850 WG-2 
ReleasedJanuary 2017February 2012More recent by 60 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k460kCrisper display (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Panasonic GX850

 WG-2 GX850 

Common features in the Panasonic GX850 and Pentax WG-2

 GX850 WG-2 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic GX850 enjoys outer measurements of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-2 has specifications of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GX850 and Pentax WG-2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the GX850 versus the WG-2.

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the GX850 and WG-2 is 90 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to picture the contrast in sensor measurements merely by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph here might provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the GX850 and WG-2.

Clearly, both cameras enjoy the same exact resolution but different sensor measurements. The GX850 contains the larger sensor which will make obtaining shallower depth of field less difficult. The more recent GX850 should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Portrait photography details
Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography details
66
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
40
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports face detect focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Street photography factors
Pentax WG-2 Street photography factors
80
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
has touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
54
weather proofing
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Sports photography information
Pentax WG-2 Sports photography information
52
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/500s)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (210 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
38
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports tracking focus
weather proofing
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GX850
Travel photography with Pentax WG-2
79
has touch to focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
not so great battery (210 per charge)
70
weather proofing
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX850 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Landscape photography camera
71
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (210 per charge)
47
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
weather proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GX850
Vlogging with Pentax WG-2
73
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
supports face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lack of image stabilization
lack of external microphone port
30
pretty wide (28mm)
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
does not have mic support
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Panasonic GX850 vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX850 and Pentax WG-2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850Pentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850 Pentax Optio WG-2
Also called as Lumix DMC-GX800 / Lumix DMC-GF9 -
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Revealed 2017-01-04 2012-02-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3448 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW photos
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 49 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,040k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/500 secs 1/4000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.40 m
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 20 Mbps, MP4, H.264 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 gr (0.59 pounds) 192 gr (0.42 pounds)
Dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 586 not tested
Other
Battery life 210 photographs 260 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2, 10 sec, 3 images/10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage microSD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at launch $548 $350